Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-07-28

But who would build it? The
river at this point is very wide; a
bridge of great length and
strength, and of corresponding
cost, would be necessary, if it was
to stand, and answer the purpose
for which a bridge was demanded.
| No one suggested that Grand
Rapids and Centralia, either or
both, should build one. All knew
they were unable. No one be
lieved that they ought, in justice,
to do SO even if they were able,
because bridge was needed for
the public generally, and not for
them in particular. Nor was the
county then able: Gentlemen
possessed of sufficient means were
willing to undertake it provided
they would be permitted to charge
liberal tolls. But the compara-
lively few people in the county at
that time were unwilling that their
county seat and principal market
should be permanently accessible
to considerable of their number
only by means of a toll bridge.
This sentiment was particularly
strong with those residing west Of
the river. All believed that in
after years, and it was hoped be-
fore very many years should
elapse, the desirable lands west of
the river would become more
generally occupied by actual
settlers; that their superior wealth
in timber and soil would soon be
made available by the hand of
labor; that the population and
wealth of the county must soon
rapidly increase. And when that
time arrived, Git was said) the
county will be abundantly able to
maintain a free bridge, while no
one will be willing to tolerate a
toll bridge. 1t was and is a
common thing for counties to sup
port bridges ACROSS large rivers,
not only in the older states, but
in this. Our sister county of
Marathon built and maintained,
and when necessary rebuilt, the
bridge at Wausau. The bridge at
M Merrill was built by Lincoln
county. Neither of these bridges
are as long or expensive as ours,
while either Wausau or Merrill is
weather and more populous than
Grand Rapids and Centralia COM
bined. No one dreamed when
the bridge was contemplated that
Wood county would ever be pop
ulated by people who would be
unwilling to maintain bridge
across a very wide, naVigable
river, which three-fourths of their
number must cross to reach their
county seat. Accordingly, when
the gentlemen before referred to
expressed a willingness to build a
bridge here, on condition that
they should collect tolls, the peo-
pie insisted that such privilege
should be given them only upon
the condition that the county
should have the right, whenever
it should become able to do so, to
purchase and own the bridge and
make it free to all. A provision
was accordingly incorporated in
the law of 1865, (Which granted
to the persons referred to the
right to build and maintain a toll
bridge that the county should
have b070er, in its discretion, at any
time after five years from the
erection Of the bridge, to pur-
chase and own it, and thereafter to
maintain it as a free bridge-the
law prescribing a method whereby
its value and price should be as
certained by appraisal. The
county was not obligated to pur-
chase the bridge. No such obli-
cation could be imposed upon it
for the reason heretofore given.
But it was granted the right to do
so if it chose; and if it chose to
purchase 1t, 1t must be Ab0H the
condition that it should thereafter
maintain 1t as a free byldge After
wards, in 1873, the county by its
Board of Supervisors voluntarily
caused the bridge to be appraised,
and bought it, and thereby delib-
erately assumed an obligation
thereafter to maintain 1t as free
v1dgg. The Supreme Court has
since decided that the obligation
, thus assumed is continuing and
perpetual. (See 4Ist Wis. Re
ports, page 2S; 10th Wis. Reports,
page 674) This obligation the
Legislature could not, if it would
transfer from the county to Grand
5 Rapids and Centralia, except by
their consent, and also the con
sent of the county. Nor could
the Legislature, if it would, au-
thorize the county to charge tolls
for its use